The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-05-22
ABOUT FOREIGN LANDS.

General John w. Foster Talks of NihiIis1t
in Russia-Anairs in Mexico and spain.
ibid you come in contact with any Of the
workings of the Nihilists while you were in Rus
sia7" he asked.
IF desired to study the Nihilists and their
plottings think I should locate either in Swift
zerlani in London" replied General Foster.
sit is in those places, among the Russian exiles
that the true nature of the Russian Nihlist
finds its way to the surface of current events.
1t is carefully concealed and smothered in Rus
STA You see there is no other escaDe-valve for
the Walls of wrath against the Russian govern
ment except in these personal assaults upon
rulers and officials. the government is purely
autocratc. There are never two sides to any
public question. Free press and free speech are
unknown quantities. Where the subjects of
other countries can get up in their houses of
Parliament and publicly denounce officials, the
subject of Russia can only sit and nurse his wrath
in anticipation of a time when he can wreak
bodily vengeance upon his rulers. public
meeting of any sort is an utter impossblity
without governmental permission. Newspapers,
as we are acquainted with them in this country,
are unknown in Russia. They under strict
official surveillance and would be promptly sup
pressed and the publishers and editors severely
punished were they to throw open their columns
to what we have been accustomed to term the
freedom of the press. No man, native or for
eigner, enter or leave Russia without prop
erly attested passport. AS soon as you enter the
country and stay at hotel, the first thing de-
manded of you will be your passport. This is
sent to police headquarters. and there it remains
until you are ready to leave the city, when it is
returned you In the meantime. the Russian
police force take great pains to verify the fact
that you are just what your passport represents
you to be.
tanned over the movements of travellers as long
as they remain within the confines of the coun-
try. When they leave, too. the country takes
great care to know just what they carry away
with them. All this, of course. Is outerowth
of the fact that the government is autocratic
Every misfortune is charged up to the ac-
count of the Gear, no matter how little he may
have known regarding it, and. on his account to
every one of his subordinates During my resi-
dence in St. Petersburg, several officials, includ
ing the Emperor. Alexander II, and the chief of
police were assassinated.
There are a great many ways of looking at
these things" continued General Foster. 'Now.
Alexander IL of the kiniesr hearted
men that ever graced throne. He liberated
the serfs of Russia, system of slavery that
was much more horrible than that which form
erly prevailed in this country. This emancipa-
ton act was entirely of his own voltion,
and was purely an outgrowth of his goodness of
heart There was no war demanding such an
act measure. the with
President Lincoln Alexander simply believed
that the serfs of Russia were entitled to their
freedom-that the march of enlighten nent and
civilization demanded IL OF them-and he gave 1t
to them. 1t noble act-history records
few more praiseworthy-and yet Alexander III
was assassinated by the Nihilists of Russia
AS / said. everything is visited upon the
head of the government The Siberian mine
horrors and many others that are supposed to
originate with the Gar, very often to be
traced to his subordinates."
"Were you favorably impressed with Spainf"
'Spain is a peculiarly interesting country. To
patriotic American who venerates the memory
of Christopher Colum bus, it could not very well
be otherwise. It is gradually improving. too. of
late, in the of stability and less frequent
currence of the revolutions which have proved
so fatal to the prosperity of Spain in the past.
In the Spanish-American provinces this is par
ticularly noticeable Cuba is more of country
to-day than ever before. There is a strong party
which favors similar govern tai arrangements
with Spain that Canada enjoys with England
Then there is perhaps still stronger element in
Cuba which favors annexation to the United
States. This. however. is In large part under
the surface. You see. about the only exporta-
tions from Cuba sugar and tobacco. OF
these. fully nine-tenths of all shipments come
to the United States A little sugar is
sent to England and little to Spain,
but none goes to any other coun-
try. This fact is largely responsible for
the desire on the part of prominent planters
and producers to be annexed to this country.
The duties on sugar amount to from 20 to 100
per cent, and this, of course. would make a
great difference in profits were it removed. 1t
would also have a decided effect in reducing the
prices of sugars in this country"
''Do you regard Mexico as a promising coun-
try7'
changes since left there" said General Foster,
meditatively. There have been fewer revolu-
tions and more general prosperity. The one
thing which has been most responsible for keep
ing Mexico back in the past has been the ten
dency the part of the people TO engage in
disastrous internal warfare. Under President
Diaz this has been to great extent eradicated,
and of peace and prosperity has been
inaugurated. Gonzales ruled one term between
the former and present reign of Diaz He also
was a wise man in frowning down useless revo-
lutions. regard President Diaz as a great and
intelligent ruler"